Join A Domain

Joining a Windows Machine to a Domain

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Author: bobbuilder

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Prerequisites

• A user account with permissions to join computers to the domain.
• The domain name (e.g., targetdomain.com).
• The domain controller's IP or hostname (optional, but useful for troubleshooting).
• The machine must be able to reach the domain controller (DNS and network connectivity).
• The machine must have the correct DNS settings pointing to the domain controller.

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Join via GUI

1. Open Settings (Win + I).
2. Go to Accounts → Access work or school.
3. Click Connect → Join this device to a local Active Directory domain.
4. Enter the domain name (e.g., targetdomain.com) and click Next.
5. Provide domain credentials (e.g., DOMAIN\username or username@domain.com).
6. Click OK and restart the computer when prompted.

Join via System Properties

1. Open Run (Win + R), type sysdm.cpl, and press Enter.
2. Go to the Computer Name tab and click Change.
3. Under Member of, select Domain and enter the domain name (e.g., targetdomain.com).
4. Click OK and enter domain credentials when prompted.
5. Restart the computer to complete the domain join.

Join via PowerShell

Check Current Domain Status

Get-ComputerInfo | Select-Object CsDomain

Get-WmiObject Win32_ComputerSystem | Select-Object Domain

Verify DNS Settings

Ensure the domain name resolves to the correct Domain Controller (DC).

Get Domain's IP Address

nslookup targetdomain.com

Get-DnsClientServerAddress

Set the DNS Server to the Domain Controller

If DNS is not set correctly, update it.

Set on a Specific Interface

Find the correct interface:

Get-NetAdapter | Select-Object ifIndex, Name, InterfaceDescription, Status

Example Output:

ifIndex Name                         InterfaceDescription                 Status
------- ----                         --------------------                 ------
     13 OpenVPN Wintun               Wintun Userspace Tunnel              Disconnected
      8 OpenVPN TAP-Windows6         TAP-Windows Adapter V9               Disconnected
      7 Ethernet                     Intel(R) PRO/1000 MT Desktop Adapter Up
      6 OpenVPN Data Channel Offload OpenVPN Data Channel Offload         Up

Set the DNS server for the correct interface:

Set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceIndex <ifIndex> -ServerAddresses ("<dc_ip>")

Or set it for a given Interface Name:

$interfID = (Get-NetAdapter | Where-Object { $_.InterfaceDescription -like "*<interface_name>*" } | Select-Object -ExpandProperty ifIndex)
Set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceIndex $interfID -ServerAddresses ("<dc_ip>")

Set for All Interfaces

Set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceIndex (Get-NetAdapter | Select-Object -ExpandProperty ifIndex) -ServerAddresses ("<dc_ip>")

Reset DNS Settings (Undo Changes)

Set-DnsClientServerAddress -InterfaceIndex (Get-NetAdapter | Select-Object -ExpandProperty ifIndex) -ResetServerAddresses

(Not Recommended) Modify Hosts File

notepad C:\Windows\System32\drivers\etc\hosts

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Join the Machine to a Domain

Add-Computer -DomainName "targetdomain.com" -Credential "targetdomain\admin" -Restart

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Verifying Domain Membership

After restarting, verify the domain join status.

PowerShell

Get-WmiObject Win32_ComputerSystem | Select-Object Domain

Command Prompt

echo %userdomain%

Remove Computer From Domain

GUI

PowerShell

Remove-Computer -UnjoinDomainCredential DOMAIN\Administrator -WorkgroupName WORKGROUP -Force -Restart